Combination of tool bit with handle

ABSTRACT

A tool includes a tool bit and a handle. The tool bit includes a shank formed at an end thereof. The handle includes a joint formed at an end thereof for connection with the shank of the tool bit in a releasable manner. The joint defmes a space for receiving the shank of the tool bit. The shank of the tool bit defines at least one recess. The joint includes at least one ball that can partially enters the at least one recess defined in the shank of the tool bit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a tool and more particularlyto a tool including a handle for connection with a tool bit in areleasable manner.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] There have been various gardening tools such as shovels andrakes. Conventionally, such a tool includes a tool bit and a handle.Generally, the tool bit includes an insert extending from an edgethereof. The insert of the tool bit is inserted in the handle that ismade of wood or plastics. Sometimes, the tool bit is merged with thehandle. Such a tool requires a large space for storage thereof since thehandle extends from the tool bit.

[0005] There has been a foldable tool consisting a tool bit and a handleconnected with the tool bit in a foldable manner. The handle is extendedfrom the tool bit in use. The tool bit and the handle can be folded forstorage. The foldable tool requires a small space for storage thereof.Each tool bit is securely connected with a specific handle. Therefore,two tools, such as a shovel and a rake, include two handles. However,two handles are more than a single user needs for he or she does not usetwo tools at the same time.

[0006] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or atleast alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a toolincluding a handle for connection with a tool bit in a releasablemanner.

[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a toolassembly including a handle for selective connection with one of manytool bits in a releasable manner.

[0009] According to the present invention, a tool includes a tool bitand a handle. The tool bit includes a shank formed at an end thereof.The handle includes a joint formed at an end thereof for connection withthe shank of the tool bit in a releasable manner. The joint defines aspace for receiving the shank of the tool bit. The shank of the tool bitdefmes at least one recess. The joint includes at least one ball thatcan partially enters the at least one recess defined in the shank of thetool bit.

[0010] The joint includes first and second plates separated from eachother by the space. The second plate defines at least one hole incommunication with the space. The at least one hole defined in thesecond plate receives the at least one ball, and includes an end of areduced dimension so as to retain the at least one ball therein.

[0011] The second plate defines a tunnel in communication with the atleast one hole. The rod can be inserted in the tunnel so as to push theat least one ball into engagement with the at least one recess definedin the shank of the tool bit.

[0012] The rod defines at least one recess with a slope. The at leastone ball is partially received in the at least one recess defined in therod for preventing escape of the rod from the joint. The rod can slidebetween a first position and a second position. In the first position,the slope pushes the at least one ball into engagement with the at leastone recess defined in the shank of the tool bit. In the second position,the at least one ball falls in the at least one recess defined in therod so as to completely leave the recess defined in the shank of thetool bit.

[0013] A spring may be mounted on the rod. The rod includes a head sothat the spring is compressed between the joint and the head of the rod.

[0014] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool including a handle forconnecting with a tool bit in a releasable manner according to thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool shown in FIG. 1 without acover;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 except for showing the tool in anotherposition;

[0020] FIGS. 6˜9 are perspective views of a handle engaged with varioustool bits;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1˜5, according to the present invention, atool includes a handle 10 for connection with a tool bit 40 in areleasable manner. The handle 10 is formed with a joint 11 at an endthereof. The joint 11 includes a first plate 12 and a second plate 13separated from each other by a gap 14 of a distance. The first plate 12defmes a threaded hole 121 and two holes 122.

[0022] The second plate 13 defines two holes 131 corresponding to theholes 122 defined in the first plate 12. The second plate 13 defines atunnel 132 in communication with the holes 131. The second plate 13defines a recess 133 of a greater diameter than that ofthe tunnel 132.

[0023] A cover 31 includes two extensions 311 projecting inperpendicular thereto. A hole 312 is defined in the cover 31. A threadedbolt 32 is inserted through the hole 312 for engagement with thethreaded hole 121, thus retaining the ball 34 in the threaded hole 121.Furthermore, the cover 31 is securely mounted on the first plate 12 bymeans of the threaded bolt 32 engaged with the threaded hole 121. Theholes 122 are closed by means of the cover 31.

[0024] A rod 23 includes an enlarged head (not numbered) formed at anend thereof. The rod 23 defines two notches 231 each including a slope232.

[0025] In assembly, the spring 22 is mounted on the rod 23. The rod 23is inserted in the tunnel 132 so that the recesses 231 are aligned withthe holes 131 as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, two balls 21 can be put in theholes 131 through the holes 122. A tool (not shown) can be insertedthrough each of the holes 122 in order to press an annular edge at anupper end of one of the holes 131 in order to make its diameter smallerthan that of the balls 21. Thus, escape of the balls 21 from the holes131 is prevented. An end of the spring 22 is received in the hole 133.

[0026] The spring 22 is compressed between the second plate 13 and thehead of the rod 23 for biasing the rod 23 away from the second plate 13.As shown in FIG. 4, a portion of each of the balls 21 remains in one ofthe recesses 231, thus preventing escape of the rod 23 from the tunnel13.

[0027] A threaded bolt 32 defmes a recess (not numbered) in which aspring 33 and a ball 34 are embedded so that they cannot escape from thethreaded bolt 32. A portion of the ball 34 can be exposed to theexternal of the recess defined in the threaded bolt 32. The threadedbolt 32 is inserted through the hole 312 for engagement with thethreaded hole 121.

[0028] In use, the rod 23 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 tothe position shown in FIG. 5 so that the balls 21 fall in the recesses231 and that the balls 21 are completely moved from the gap 14 betweenthe plates 12 and 13. Thus, a shank (not numbered) of a tool bit 40 canbe inserted in the gap 14 between the plates 12 and 13. The shank of thetool bit 40 defines two holes 41. A recess 42 is defmed in an uppersurface of the shank of the tool bit 40. When the holes 41 are alignedwith the holes

1. A tool including:  a tool bit (40) including a shank formed at anend thereof; and  a handle (10) including a joint (11) formed at an endthereof for connection with the shank of the tool bit (40) in areleasable manner.
 2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the joint(11) defines a space (14) for receiving the shank of the tool bit (40).3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the shank of the tool bit (40)defmes at least one recess (41) and the joint (11) includes at least oneball (21) that can partially enters the at least one recess (41) definedin the shank of the tool bit (40).
 4. The tool according to claim 3wherein the joint (11) includes first and second plates (12, 13)separated from each other by the space (14), the second plate (13)defines at least one hole (131) in communication with the space (14),wherein the at least one hole (131) defined in the second plate (13)receives the at least one ball (21), and includes an end of a reduceddimension so as to retain the at least one ball therein.
 5. The toolaccording to claim 4 including a rod (23), wherein the second plate (13)defines a tunnel (132) in communication with the at least one hole(131), wherein the rod (23) can be inserted in the tunnel (132) in orderto push the at least one ball (23) into engagement with the at least onerecess (41) defined in the shank of the tool bit (40).
 6. The toolaccording to claim 5 wherein the rod (23) defmes at least one recess(231) with a slope (232), wherein the at least one ball (21) ispartially received in the at least one recess (231) defined in the rod(23) for preventing escape of the rod (23) from the joint (11), whereinthe rod (23) can slide between a first position where the slope (232)pushes the at least one ball (21) into engagement with the at least onerecess (41) defined in the shank of the tool bit (40) and a secondposition where the at least one ball (21) falls in the at least onerecess (231) defined in the rod (23) so as to completely leave therecess (41) defined in the shank of the tool bit (40).
 7. The toolaccording to claim 6 including a spring (22) mounted on the rod (23),wherein the rod (23) includes a head so that the spring (22) iscompressed between the joint (11) and the head of the rod (23).
 8. Thetool according to claim 4 wherein the tool bit (40) is a shovel.